Liquid dispenser for shower bath

ABSTRACT

An assembly for discharging liquid into a water shower spray includes a flat, circular container mountable removably on a bathroom wall, a flexible tube connected to the container, a manually operable valve on the tube, and an elongated flexible shell which clamps on a shower fixture. The tube extends through the shell and is secured therein. The tube has a liquid discharging end supported by shell just above the shower spray.

Unite States Patent Sabine Henning;

Lotte Bachmann, both of 33-18 69th St., Jackson Heights, N.Y. 11377 Nov. 10, 1969 Nov. 30, 197] Inventors Appl. No Filed Patented LlQUlD DISPENSER FOR SHOWER BATH 3 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

Int. Cl 867d 3/00 Field of Search 222/133.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1907 Lee 2.592.053 4/1952 Megla. 248/79 2,922,248 1/1960 Kocsi. 248/224 3.083.915 4/1963 Gravel 239/379 X 3.198.437 8/1965 Faglie 222/545 X 3.409.230 11/1968 Elkema .1 239/314 Primary l:'.\'aminer Robert B. Reeves Assistant E.raminerFrancis J. Bartuska Au0rneyP0lachek & Saulsbury ABSTRACT: An assembly for discharging liquid into a water shower spray includes a flat. circular container mountable removably on a bathroom wall, a flexible tube connected to the container, a manually operable valve on the tube. and an elongated flexible shell which clamps on a shower fixture. The tube extends through the shell and is secured therein. The tube has a liquid discharging end supported by shelljust above the shower spray.

PATENTEU 30 3,623,638

I SHEET 2 [1F 2 P [oTTE BACHM/IIVN INVENTORS IWTORNE V8 LIQUID DISPENSER FOR SHOWER BATH This invention concerns a device attachable to a shower bath fixture for dispensing a liquid into the shower spray.

Dispensers of liquid soap have heretofore been known which are installed near sinks in washrooms and bathrooms for use by a person washing himself. The user generally operates a valve to dispense a small quantity of liquid soap. There is no direct association or connection with the water faucets of the sink.

The present invention involves a device which will automatically dispense liquid soap, bath oil, eau de cologne or other liquid directly into a water spray emitted from a head of a shower fixture. The device includes a shell made of flexible plastic material which encircles and clamps on a shower fixture and supports a liquid dispensing tube. Another part of the assembly serves as a container of liquid to be dispensed. This container is flat and circular for mounting on the wall of a bathroom. The dispensing tube is connected to the liquid container. A valve is mounted on the tube for controlling the rate of liquid discharge and for shutting off the supply of liquid.

The invention has as a principal object provision of convenient means for dispensing a liquid into a shower spray emitted from a bathroom shower fixture.

Another object is to provide a small, attractive assembly of tube, clamp and liquid container for use in dispensing the liquid.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken together with the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view ofa liquid dispensing assembly embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view ofthe tube supporting shell taken on line 2-2 ofFlG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken through a valve of the assembly on line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. I, through a liquid container forming part of the assembly;

FIG. Sis a cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged rear perspective view of the tube supporting part of the assembly;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 8-8 of FIG.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view on an enlarged scale showing a bracket support for the liquid container and part of the liquid container.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown an assembly 10including a liquid container 12 and clamp part 14. A flexible liquid dispensing tube 16 extends between container I2 and part 14. The tube is secured at one end on a nipple 18 at the bottom of the container as best shown in FIG. 4. The container is generally round with a flat back, and is vertically disposed on wall 20 ofa bathroom. An air hole 22 is provided at the top of the container to admit air. The container is filled with a suitable liquid 24 such as bath oil, cologne, soap or the like. On flat back 23 of the container is an integral hook 26 best shown in FIGS. 2 and 9. This hook fits removably into a rectangular recess 28 formed on the back ofa bracket 30. The bracket has a flat rear wall 31 which can be secured by a suitable adhesive 32 to the bathroom wall 20. The container is supported in an elevated position above shower pipe and head fixture 34 with tube 16 extending downwardly from the bottom of the container as clearly shown in FIG. 1.

A valve 40 is adjustably mounted on the tube 16. This valve includes a block 42 through which the tube 16 extends. In the block is a movable rectangular core 44. The core is formed at the upper end of threaded bolt 46 engaged in a nut 48. The nut is rotatable in the block to advance or retract the bolt and core. The core can be advanced to compress the tube to restrict flow of liquid therethrough or to stop liquid flow completely.

The other end of the tube 16 extends through the rear end of flexible clamp part 14. This part as clearly shown in FIG. 1 may have the attractive form of a simulated body of a bumble bee. The clamp part 14 is a flexible plastic shell having a narrower rather spherical forward end portion 50 and larger elongated end portion 52. Spaced flexible fingers 54 extend circumferentially toward each other at rear edges 55 of portion 52 as clearly shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 to engage under fixture 34. Tube 16 is engaged in clips 58 secured near opposite inside ends of the clamp part 14. The tube extends longitudinally through the shell and emerges at opening 60 from which liquid 24 drips into the shower spray 66 as clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The shell can be spread laterally to engage on fixture 34.

By the arrangement described, liquid soap or any desired fragrance can be added to the water spray 66. Liquid 24 may be a germicidal or medicinal fluid. Regardless of the type of liquid employed it will be conveniently dispensed at a drop at a time into the shower spray to perform its desired function.

The container 12 may be flat and circular to simulate a head ofa flower as shown in FIG. 1. The clamp part 14 may resemble the body ofa bumble bee as already mentioned. All parts may be attractively colored. The assembly may be made entirely of plastic parts. They can be molded, extruded or otherwise formed by mass production plastic machinery at low cost. The parts of the assembly are easy to mount on the wall and easy to remove for cleaning or replacement. A removable plug 70 as seen in FIG. 9 can be provided at the back of the container for refiling it. Alternatively the container may be arranged for one-time use without a filler plug, so that the container can be discarded after the liquid contents are dispensed.

The assembly constitutes a bathroom appliance or accessory which meets a long felt need for an inexpensive, attractive, convenient device to dispense liquid into a shower spray in a bathroom.

What is claimed is:

I. An assembly for dispensing a liquid into a water shower spray emitted from a shower pipe and head fixture projecting from a wall in a bathroom, comprising a container for said liquid mountable on said wall, a clamp body in the form of an elongated flexible shell which is spreadable to be fitted longitudinally over the fixture to encircle the same but readily releasable therefrom, clips provided inside the shell at the op posite ends thereof for engaging and supporting the tube, said clamp body extending over the forward end of the fixture and said tube being clipped within the body to extend further over the fixture so as to emit drops of the liquid into the spray delivered from the spray head, and a manually adjustable valve carried on the tube for controlling the rate of flow of the fluid through the tube from the container.

2. An assembly for dispensing a liquid into a water shower spray as defined in claim 1, said container having a flat back disposable adjacent said wall and a hook integral with the flat back extending outwardly thereover, a bracket adapted to be mounted upon the wall and having a recess for receiving said hook, said container having an opening on the top thereof for emitting air and a nipple at the bottom thereof, said tube releasably secured to the container nipple for passing liquid from the container to the tube, and a plugged refill opening on the back of the container for refilling the container.

3. An assembly for dispensing a liquid into a water shower spray as defined in claim 2, said flexible shell body simulating the body of a bumble bee with its head at the forward end adjacent to the end of the tube emitting the liquid and said container being circular in form and shaped to appear as a flower blossom. 

1. An assembly for dispensing a liquid into a water shower spray emitted from a shower pipe and head fixture projecting from a wall in a bathroom, comprising a container for said liquid mountable on said wall, a clamp body in the form of an elongated flexible shell which is spreadable to be fitted longitudinally over the fixture to encircle the same but readily releasable therefrom, clips provided inside the shell at the opposite ends thereof for engaging and supporting the tube, said clamp body extending over the forward end of the fixture and said tube being clipped within the body to extend further over the fixture so as to emit drops of the liquid into the spray delivered from the spray head, and a manually adjustable valve carried on the tube for controlling the rate of flow of the fluid tHrough the tube from the container.
 2. An assembly for dispensing a liquid into a water shower spray as defined in claim 1, said container having a flat back disposable adjacent said wall and a hook integral with the flat back extending outwardly thereover, a bracket adapted to be mounted upon the wall and having a recess for receiving said hook, said container having an opening on the top thereof for emitting air and a nipple at the bottom thereof, said tube releasably secured to the container nipple for passing liquid from the container to the tube, and a plugged refill opening on the back of the container for refilling the container.
 3. An assembly for dispensing a liquid into a water shower spray as defined in claim 2, said flexible shell body simulating the body of a bumble bee with its head at the forward end adjacent to the end of the tube emitting the liquid and said container being circular in form and shaped to appear as a flower blossom. 